GAITHERSBURG, Md., March 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Digene Corp. announced today that it is launching a direct-to-consumer advertising campaign to educate women about the link between human papilloma virus (HPV) and cervical cancer and the availability of a test for HPV. The Digene HPV Test, also known as the DNAwithPap(TM) Test, is the only FDA-approved test for high-risk types of HPV, which cause virtually all cases of cervical cancer. The test is approved for use along with the Pap test to screen women age 30 and older, the group most at risk of developing cervical cancer.
Underscoring the need for a direct-to-consumer educational advertising campaign, a recent poll of 1,000 adult American women conducted by Research!America and published in Parade magazine reported that only 3 percent of respondents knew that HPV causes most cases of cervical cancer and just 13 percent reported that their doctor or healthcare provider had discussed the option of HPV testing with them. Yet, once informed of the benefits of HPV testing, 77 percent of those aged 35-55 stated they would like to know their HPV status.
"The need for more education of women on cervical cancer and HPV is clear," said Evan Jones, Digene's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Through our physician sales organization and laboratory partners, we have educated thousands of doctors on the benefits of testing for HPV. Now, through this direct-to-consumer campaign we are working to support the medical community by raising consumer awareness of our revolutionary test, the Digene HPV Test."
Digene will be placing one of two advertisements in 10 national magazines, beginning in the April or May issues: People, Ladies Home Journal, Redbook, O (Oprah), Family Circle, Woman's Day, First for Women, Cosmopolitan, Real Simple and Parents. In addition, a 30-second television advertisement will be aired in three metropolitan areas.
In the advertisements, women will be informed that:
* Almost all cervical cancers are caused by HPV.
* While a Pap test looks for abnormal cells caused by HPV, it does not
always find them in pre-cancerous stages.
* When used along with the Pap in women aged 30 and older, the Digene HPV
Test can help a woman's doctor reduce her chance of developing cervical
cancer.
For more information on HPV and the Digene HPV Test, women are encouraged to call 877-HPV-FACT for a free brochure, or to visit http://www.thehpvtest.com/. Copies of the advertisements are available on both http://www.thehpvtest.com/ and http://www.digene.com/.
The "Digene HPV Test" was approved by the US FDA and is also known to laboratories and physicians as the "hc2 High-Risk HPV DNA Test(TM)" and "DNAwithPap Test." It does not refer to the Digene product that tests for several types of the virus commonly referred to as "low-risk HPV," which are not associated with cervical cancer. The Digene HPV test is also not suitable for regular Pap screenings, and it is not intended for routine use in women younger than 30 with normal Pap results.
About Digene:
Digene Corporation , based in Gaithersburg, MD, develops, manufactures and markets proprietary DNA and RNA testing systems for the screening, monitoring and diagnosis of human diseases -- with a focus on women's cancers and infectious diseases. The company's hc2 High-Risk HPV DNA Test is the only test for human papilloma virus approved by the FDA. It is approved by the agency for use in conjunction with the Pap test as a primary screen for cervical cancer and its precursors in women aged 30 and older, and as a follow-up to an abnormal Pap test result. For more information, visit http://www.thehpvtest.com/. Digene's product portfolio also includes DNA tests for the detection of other sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia and gonorrhea, as well as tests for blood viruses. Visit the company's Web site, http://www.digene.com/. For more information, investors should contact Charles Fleischman at 301-944-7000; journalists should contact Pam Rasmussen, 301-944-7196.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of the future, as there are a number of meaningful factors that could cause the company's actual results to vary materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Meaningful factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations include, but are not limited to, the degree of acceptance of HPV testing by physicians and the extent of reimbursement for the HPV test by third-party payers, as well as other factors discussed in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. For other factors, reference is made to the discussion in the company's annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Digene CorporationCONTACT: Investors, Charles M. Fleischman, President, +1-301-944-7000,or Media, Pam Rasmussen, +1-301-944-7196, both of Digene Corporation; or SeanLeous of Financial Dynamics, +1-212-850-5600, for Digene Corporation